Phonographic apparatus



C. C. GUERNSEY.

PHONOGRAPH|C APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR-5, 1919.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. GUERNSEY, OF EAST BARRINGTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE rnouoeimrnrc APPARATUS.

App1ication filed April 5, 1919. Serial No. 287,719.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known'that 1, CHARLES C. GUERN- SEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Barrington, in the county of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Phonographic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto sound reproducing apparatus and more particularly to an improvement in the sound-vibration transmitting elements and devices of such an apparatus considered either singly or collectively.

The primary object of the present invention is to form the sound-vibration transmitting elements or devices of a sound reproducing apparatus of a novel material possessing properties .which will result in vibrations being more. accurately transmitted than heretofore so that the recorded sounds wilLbe reproduced with a maximum degreeof accuracy and without the attendance of any harsh or discordant sounds-or noises which is a' well recognized fault of the greater majorit of phonographs and similar sound repro ucing apparatuses. As a rule, rather than otherwise, the sound vibration transmitting elements of sound reproducing apparatuses are constructed of metal so that the reproduction of recorded sounds is accompanied by discordant metallic noises particularly in the reproduction of the higher notes and of band music. It is true, it has been proposed to form the styli of such apparatuses from various nonmetallic materials as, for example, ivory,

wood, bone treated by various processes, etc., but even by the use of such expedients, uniforml 00d results cannot always be obtained? Likewise, it has been proposed to form the diaphragm of such an apparatus from various kinds of material to counteract the metallic sounds attending the use of a metallic needle, but without any great degree of success. As stated, therefore, it is the object of the present invention to form this and other sound-vibration transmitting elements or parts from a material which will insure of a uniformly accurate reproduction of the recorded sounds because of a more perfect transmission of the vibrations produced in the travel of the stylus point in the record groove.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figured is a side elevation illustrating one type of reproducing apparatus, all or a part of the elements of which may be produced in accordance with the present invention Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the vibration transmittin arm, the needle vise by which it is earned, and the needle, all or a part of which elements may be produced in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through another type of reproducing'apparatus, 4

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a portion of said apparatus, and

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views illustrating different types of styli produced in accordance with the invention.

' The present invention is directed, as stated, to improvements in the sound-vibration transmitting devices or elements of a phonographio or sound reproducing apparatus and by a sound-vibration transmitting element I mean any element of such an apparatus which serves in any way to transmit the vibrations produced through "the travel of the stylus point in the record gfi'oove and located between the point where t ey are set up or initially produced and the point where they are discharged as sound waves, and the invention comprehends the production of the entire reproducing device or apparatus in accordance with the invention or any single element thereof alone and,

-of course, on the other hand. any selected number or combination of such elements. Thus, the rinciples of the invention may find embo iment in the stylus, the dia-' phragm, the vibration transmitting arm located between the stylus and diaphragm, and inclusive or exclusive of the needle vise, the sound box, the tone arm, etc. Therefore, in the claims where I refer broadly to a soundvibration transmitting element, this term comprehends any of said elements.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings illustrate, so far as structural details are concerned, a well known type of sound reproducing apparatus including the usual sound box 1, diaphragm 2, sound-vibration transmitting arm 3 and its associated support 4 and needle vise 5, the needle or stylus 6, and the tone arm 7. In this particular type of apparatus, the stylus 6 is an independent element and may be renewed or rep-laced through manipulation of the clamp screw of the vise 5 in the usual manner and which screw is indicated by the numeral 8, so that in this particular type of apparatus new or newly sharpened needles may be substituted for worn needles, and needles designed for sound reproduction in loud, soft or medium tones may be substituted one for another. In Figure 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a slightly modified form of apparatus in which the sound-vibration transmitting arm -3 and stylus 6 constitute an integral whole,

being either-made in one piece or several ieces permanently united. The other parts illustrated in Figure 3 and common to this structure and to the structures shown in Figures 1 and 2, are designated by corresponding reference numerals. As in this form of the invention shown in Figure 3, the stylus 6 is a integral part of the vibration transmitting arm 3, it will be desirable to provide a stylus with a diamond, sapphire or other permanent point indicated by the numeral 9 and the stylus may be of polygonal form as shown in the said figure, or of the rounded tapered form shown in Figure 4, which figure illustrates the said arm 3 and stylus disconnected from the diaphragm and sound box.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate different types of styli, the stylus shown in Figure 5 being provided with the permanent point or tip 9 previously described and being of the ordinary round or cylindrical form, and the stylus shown in Figure 6 being of the well known triangular type having a beveled end.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the formation of any or all of the elements hereinbefore referred to from bone treated in a manner and possessing the characteristics to be hereinafter more specifically pointed out. I am aware of the act that it has been previously proposed to form-the stylus of a sound-vibration reproducing apparatus from bone but the processes by which the bone has been treated are such that the natural fluids contained in the canals are destro ed or altered so that the result contemplated by me cannot be obtained. For example, by one process, the bone is subjected to a treatment by an acid, as for example, tannic acid, by which treatment the natural fluids in the bone canals are so altered as to practically leave the canals empty. By other processes of treatment by chemicals thesefluids have been similarly altered or driven out, and this also results from another process in which.the bone is heated to a high degree of temperature such as to evaporate the fluids. As a result oftreatment by these various processes, the bone is left in a porous condition so that it possesses agreatly diminished degree of resiliency and resonance and is a poor conductor of vibrations and does not respond to any marked degree to the action of sound waves. It is essential that the sound-vibration transmitting elements of a sound reproduction apparatus be of some material which is compact as distinguished from a material which is porous; and smoothness of surface is also a desirable feature. In preparing bone, in accordance with my invention, for the manufacture of the sound-vibration transmitting elements, the bone is. subjected to a gentle heat to suitably dry it, but the temperature towhich it is subjected is not so high as to in any way alter the physical or chemical structure of the natural fluids contained in its canals. If, even under some conditions, it may be found desirable or necessary to treat the bone in such a manner that these fluids will be driven off, then the invention contemplates that the bone shall by saturation or otherwise be reimpregnated with the fluids. As a result, bone prepared in this manner contains in its canals the natural fluids which substantially fill the canals so that the bone is of a compact fine structure as distinguished from a coarse and porous structure. The presence of these fluids in the canals is, therefore, of great importance and in the instance of a stylus made from bone thus treated, these fluids, although their presence is imperceptible to the eye, constitute a natural lubricant, so that the stylus is self-lubricating. In fact, I have found by the repeated playin of a record a great number of times by t e use of a stylus made from bone prepared as above described, the record is greatly improved and the tones become more distinct in character and while this is a result which would not be expected, it is certainly a desirable one and indicates that bone treated by my process is a highly suitable material for use in the manufacture of the sound-vibration transmitting parts or elements of a sound reproduction apparatus.

In carrying out my invention 1 may employ 'bones from various animals but it will be always advisable to employ the most compact and finest textured bone obtainable. An example of such bone is that from members of the deer family, the cannon bone from the leg of a deer being highly suitable for the purpose. Of course, a bone selected for its compactness and fineness of texture will have canals so minute as to be imperceptible to the naked eye and, of course, bone of this character may be given a highly polished and smooth finish so that by such finishing treatment its vibration transmitting qualities may be greatly enhanced. Where an element produced in accordance with the present invention is in the nature of a. stylus or a vibration transmitting armor similar part, it is desirable that the element be so out from the bone that the canals in the bone will extend longitudinally of the element so as to obtain the most effective transmission of vibrations.

It is to be understood that in its broadest aspect the invention resides in the formation of a sound vibration transmitting element, in a phonographic apparatus, of the material and in the manner herein described regardless of the nature of the element or its form or details of construction, the several specific types of such elements disclosed in the drawings being merely illustrative of examples of various forms of such elements.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In sound reproduction apparatus, a sound-vibration transmitting element formed from bone which has been subjected to a preparatory treatment without depriving it of the natural fluids present in its canals.

2.111 sound reproduction apparatus, a sound-vilu'atioirtransinitting element formed from bone which has been subjected to a preparatory treatment without physically changing or expelling the natural fluids initscanals.

3. The process for the production of a sound-vibration transmitting element of a sound reproduction apparatus which comprises subjecting bone to a gentle heat at a temperature which will not alter the characteristics of the natural fluids present in the canals, and forming the element from the bone.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES C. GUERNSEY. 

